A retired factory worker from Coventry says the secret to his first century is a daily pint of Guinness.

Howat Turnbull, who celebrates his 100th birthday today at Willowbrook House residential home in Glebe Close, Canley, drinks a pint in his room every day before lunch because a doctor prescribed it more than 70 years ago.

The great-grandfather, who must have consumed 25,900 pints so far, said: "I had pneumonia in 1932 and finished up in a convalescence home in Bournemouth where the doctor told me to have a glass of milk and a pint of Guinness every day.

"I gave up the milk after a couple of weeks but I still have the Guinness every day!"

Mr Turnbull arrived in Coventry, aged seven or eight with his parents, two brothers and three sisters after his dad, an officer in the Royal Navy, retired and started work as foreman at the Daimler factory in Canley.

The family lived in Stanley Road, Earlsdon, and went to Edgewick School, where Mr Turnbull left at the age of 14, and started work in the saw mill of the Standard Motors factory. He worked there for 50 years rising to the role of supervisor.

In 1929 he married his wife, May, and the couple had two children Graham, now aged 60, and David, who died in his 60s.

During the Second World War he helped out on the home front in civil defence based at Mount Nod and was called on to help during the Blitz.

He added: "They were bombing the houses in the Harnall Lane (Hillfields) area and we were asked for volunteers to help out the regulars.

"I was one of three picked to help and I went down - there was a lot of damage and when I was there they got a woman out with her two girls.

"When I got the chance I used to walk through the town to Foleshill to see if my parents were okay. Being in a uniform, I was allowed to walk through the area."

Mr Turnbull lived with his wife in Bishopton Close, Mount Nod, until she died in 1995, aged 88. Six years ago he moved into the retirement home.

But even at 100, Mr Turnbull still takes pleasure from baking cakes for his friends and family and is having a party for all 62 residents of the home, former neighbours, district nurses, relatives and friends today.